Napkin holder for trays



Dec. 25, 1934. B, co wE 1,985,561

NAFKIN HOLDER FOR TRAYS Filed June 4, 1952 15. F Co/we/L Patented Dec. 25, 1934 '1,985,5'6'1 HOLDER" FORTRAYS Benjamiifl com-1i;passing", j

Application June 4, 1932, Serial No. 615,386

2 Claims. (01. es -s5) The present invention relates to a napkin holder for trays.

The supplying of napkins for the use of curb service patrons has heretofore been a rather difli- 5 cult matter in that napkins merely placed upon the tray may readily be blown away by the wind or may be dropped from the tray by the attend ant. Also, if-the napkin is placed upon the tray beneath a cup or dish a very slight jarring of the tray will cause the contents of the cup or dish to be spilled upon the napkin with the result that it will be soiled and'perhaps rendered unfit for use. In some instances, the napkin is used for wrapping sandwiches, but this is also unsatisfactory since the contents of the sandwich usually stain or dampen the napkin.

Various devices for holding napkins upon trays have heretofore been provided, but most of these devices clamp the napkin upon the tray in such a manner that a pull must be exerted upon the napkin to remove it from the device, with the result that the tray may be jarred and the contents of receptacles upon the tray may be spilled.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a napkin holder or container for use with trays which will hold the napkin in such a manner that it cannot be dropped nor blown away and cannot become stained or soiled. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which is readily attachable to trays such as are generally used for curb service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a napkin holder which will securely hold the napkins but is so designed that napkins may be removed therefrom without any possibility of jarring the tray.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a napkin holder of the type described which may be readily and economically manufactured, particularly sinceit is so designed that it may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my napkin holder;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the holder attached to a tray; and I Figure 3 is a plan elevation showing the blank from which the napkin holder may be formed.

The numeral 10 generally designates the napkin holder which, in Figure 2, is shown attached to the upstanding flange --11 of av tray 12.. The napkin holder comprises a front wall 13 and rear wall 14, which walls are joined by side walls 15, the latter being'preferably inclined inwardly and downwardly as shown. The upper edge of the rear Wall 14 of the napkin holder is provided with an, outwardly projecting flange 16 which is provided at its outer portion with a relatively long downwardly projecting central tongue 17 and downwardly projecting end tongues 18 on either side of the central tongue and preferably spacedtherefrom as shown. The position of the flange 16 from which the end tongues 18 depend projects outwardly a slight distance past the depending portion 19 of the central tongue 17 so that the upstanding flange 11 of the tray may be fitted between the central tongue 17 and the end tongues 18. The end tongues 18 are preferably comparatively short andwill extend down upon the inner wall of the flange 11, but preferably are not sufiiciently long to extend over and upon the bottom wall of the tray. The central tongue 17 is preferably comparatively long so that it may extend a short distance beneath the bottom of the tray. The ends of the tongues 17 and 18 are preferably rounded or beveled so that they may be readily fitted over the upstanding flange of the tray.

With the side walls 15 of the holder 10 inclined inwardly and downwardlyas shown, it is unnecessary to provide a bottom wall for the holder, since folded napkins will be supported therein without danger of their dropping through the holder.

As is indicated in Figure 3, the napkin holder of my invention may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal, which blank is preferably formed in such a manner that portions of the central tongue 17 will be at either side edge 20 of the blank. When the blank is bent into shape to form the napkin holder, the edges 20 thereof will abut so that a single central depending tongue 1'7 will be provided.

The provision of a relatively large central tongue and end tongues at each side thereof enables the holder to be rigidly secured to the tray and prevents it from being turned or swung laterally with respect to the upstanding flange.

The napkin holder of my construction is particularly advantageous in that, although the napkins are securely held in the holder, they are not clamped therein in any way and may therefore be readily removed from the holder without any danger of jarring the tray and thereby causing any of the contents of the receptacles on the tray to be spilled.

I claim:--

1. A container for articles comprising a substantially box-like structure open at its top and bottom and including front and rear walls and inwardly and downwardly inclined side walls so that the article may be supportedtherein, said container being provided upon the upper edge of one wall with a relatively long downwardly and outwardly projecting central tongue and relatively short downwardly and outwardly projecting tongues on either side of said central tongue, said shorter tongues being supported at a sufiicient distance outwardly from the container body to engage the inner surface 01 the upstanding flange of a tray whenthe centrah tongue is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the flange of the tray.

2. A container for articles comprising a substantially box-like structure, said container being provided on the upper edge of one wall with a flange including an outwardly projecting portion, a downwardly projecting portion and an outwardly curved portion, said downwardly projecting and curved portions being laterally separated along longitudinal lines toform a central tongue and sidetongues, said side tongues being ofiset from said central tongue to permit the tongues to engage the upstanding flange of a tray, the lateral separation of the tongues serving to prevent twisting of the container with respect to the tray.

" BENJAMIN F. COLWELL. 

